One in five workers forced to miss work due to stress #Stress #CopingMechanism

By Matt Collins, 15th November 2013.

More than a quarter (28.8%) of UK workers say they feel stressed at work all or most of the time, research finds.

Employees are increasingly finding it difficult to switch off when they leave the office as the survey conducted by Business Environment revealed one fifth (21%) took work home at least one to two times a week.

Factors such as unrealistic deadlines, pressure from above and a lack of support were cited as the biggest culprits in causing stress, with one in five (19.6%) employees saying they were forced to take time off work due to stress.

Worryingly, a number of employees were turning to unhealthy ways of dealing with stress, with 6% of workers using alcohol as a coping mechanism and 3% saying they had a cigarette to wind down.

More popular tactics used to de-stress at work included going for a walk to get fresh air (43.7%) and calling friends or family (32.66%).

As many as one in twelve (7.87%) workers admitted to having shouted at a colleague as a result of stress, while 3.4% had thrown something across the room and 2% said they had sworn in front of a client or customer.

Business Environment managing director David Saul said: “Many companies have slipped into creating a culture where employees are expected to work all hours at any cost. This research clearly shows that this is actually having a detrimental effect, not only on employee health and wellbeing, but also on the wider business with billions being lost in days taken off sick.

“I believe all employers have a responsibility to challenge the status quo and cultivate an office environment where employees feel supported by senior staff and able to voice concerns before stress levels go through the roof. Of course, there will be times when employees are required to go above and beyond, but this should never be at the detriment to their health.”